How to Become a Commercial Roofing Contractor
The trades industry is need of professionals. Over the past few years, less and less people have elected to go into the trades industry which has left a shortage of professionals to tackle essential jobs. This makes it a perfect industry to break into.
On top of that, the trades industry offers training, good, competitive pay, and almost limitless opportunities when it comes to being entrepreneurial and being your own boss. And roofing is among the most in-demand jobs there is.
Every business has a roof and will eventually need it repaired or replaced along with overall maintenance.
Below is some information on how to get started in becoming a commercial roofer.
What is a commercial roofer?
A commercial roofer is a roofer who specializes in the repair, installation, and general maintenance of roofing on commercial establishments. This means businesses and public facing buildings, as opposite to single-family dwellings and other types of homes.
Commercial roofing requires training and experience different than residential roofers because of different materials used, different legal requirements for structures, and different certifications and maintenance schedules. While the skills of a commercial roofer mirror those of a residential roofer, more specialized training is required.
How do you become a commercial roofer?
Like most of the jobs in the trades industry, a commercial roofer begins their career in an apprenticeship. Usually this only requires a high school diploma or GED to get started and you work under an established roofer who offers you training on the job for a certain number of years before you can apply for whatever state certification is required for you to become a fully fledged roofer yourself.
These apprenticeships offer you both a paying job and training as you learn from invaluable on-the-job experiences and mentorship from an established tradesperson.
How do I get licensed as a roofer?
Each state has its own regulations when it comes to licensing of contractors. The construction industry, due to the dangerous nature of the work, is highly regulated but those regulations vary between states. After your required years of apprenticeship, you can apply for your certification, a process that may require some knowledge testing and affirmations from your mentor.
For commercial roofing, you will be required to get specific certificates to do your work legally. Other requirements include carrying certain types of insurance and potentially documentation if you plan on owning your own roofing business.
Additional Questions
How much can I make as a commercial roofer?
That’s going to depend on the quality of your work and the competitive rate in your area. But you can expect an average salary north of $45,000 a year with only room to grow from there.
How long does a roofing apprenticeship take?
This depends on what type of specializations you want to have but on average you can expect two-years worth of apprenticeship in addition to any special courses necessary for the type of roofing you want to do.
Talk to a commercial roofing contractor today about their career and what sort of expectations you should have diving into this career yourself.
Commercial Roofing Services and Opportunities
MacDermott Roofing is a commercial roofing company that has been providing career opportunities for aspiring tradesmen for more than 45 years. As a commercial roofer you are exposed to a variety of work opportunities in a thriving city where the historic buildings as well as new construction require roof maintenance and repair keeping your technical skills on track.
We work with all types of roofs and specialize in the Duro-Last Roofing system as an Elite Master Contractor. Commercial roof installation and repair provides a foundation to gain knowledge and technical skill that lead to other areas of expertise and job opportunities in the roofing industry.
As an industrial roofing expert, you can become a project manager, an estimator and even a contractor yourself. Questions on commercial roofing services? Call and speak to a specialist today!
